Method for sharing contents using the webdvd technology

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of sharing contents among multiple users on the Internet, using the Web-DVD technology. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for sharing contents on the Internet is provided. In this method, a user accesses a web server via a WebDVD player/recorder and uploads contents to the web server for sharing them with other users. The user can view contents uploaded to the web server by himself or others, via the WebDVD player/recorder and selectively recording the uploaded contents via the player/recorder. The user may also selectively edit the uploaded contents via the player/recorder and submit updated contents to the web server for sharing with other users. Alternatively, the user may use his WebDVD player/recorder as a web server and enable other users to access his player/recorder to view, modify or update the shared contents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a method of sharing contents, andmore particularly to a method of sharing contents among multiple usersusing WebDVD technology.

WebDVD, also known as Internet DVD, online DVD, enhanced navigation(ENav) DVD, etc., is a powerful concept of enhancing DVD-Video withInternet technology. The DVD Forum, which is an industrial consortium(http://www.dvdforum.org), is defining a standard for web contentslinked to WebDVD-Video discs. When a DVD disc containing a link to a website is inserted into a WebDVD player, a user can gain new experience bycombining the local DVD video with the Internet enhanced contentsrelating to this specific DVD disc. The Internet enhanced contents mayinclude new versions of DVD menus, pictures, audio or subtitlessynchronized with the local DVD video.

Since the main purpose of the WebDVD is to combine the Internet enhancedcontents with movie titles from studios, WebDVD discs are usuallypublished in a ROM format. Users can only view the Internet enhancedcontents without being able to share their own contents with otherusers. In order to share their own contents with other users, userstraditionally have to do authoring using professional authoring toolsand then put up their contents on a web site to allow others to accessthe web site to view and download the contents. This is typically donein a PC environment. However, in the PC environment, it usually requiresnot only computer skills but also in-depth Internet knowledge from auser. In some cases, programming skills are also required. All of thesemake it too complicate for an average user.

Therefore, there is a need for a new and easy approach for sharingcontents among multiple users on the Internet that will take the fulladvantage of the WebDVD technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of sharing contents amongmultiple users on the Internet, using the WebDVD technology.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for sharingcontents on the Internet is provided. The method comprises the steps of:accessing a web server via a WebDVD player/recorder; uploading contentsto the web server, via the player/recorder, for sharing the contentswith other users; viewing contents uploaded to the web server via theplayer/recorder; and selectively recording the uploaded contents via theplayer/recorder.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises thesteps of selectively editing the uploaded contents via a WebDVD playerand submitting updated contents to the web server, via theplayer/recorder, for sharing with other users.

In this way, a user can put up his own contents on the web server forsharing with other users and can update the contents on the server forsharing the updated contents with the other users. Alternatively, theuser may use his WebDVD player/recorder as a web server and enable otherusers to access his player/recorder to view, modify or update the sharedcontents.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding ofthe invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to thefollowing description and claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an overview of implementing a method for sharing contentsamong users, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram illustrating an operation of a WebDVDplayer/recorder, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar orcorresponding features or functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention allows a user to put up various contents (e.g.,photos, video, audio and animations) conforming to the WebDVDspecification on a web site for sharing with other users. For example,any user may use a WebDVD player to view and record these sharedcontents on a DVD RW disc for viewing them offline at a later time. Auser can even edit the downloaded contents and submit the edited versionto the web site for sharing with other users. Access to the web sitethat contains the shared contents may be limited, via passwordprotection, to a selected number of users, e.g., family and friends.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of implementing a method for sharing contentsamong users, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In FIG.1, multiple clients including client 1, client 2, . . . , and client Nare connected to the Internet and access a web server 10 to sharecontents among themselves. Clients 1 and 2 may be a computer and aWebDVD player (also referred to as “Enhanced Baseline Video Player”)respectively, while client N may be WebDVD player/recorder (alsoreferred to as an “Enhanced Video Player/Recorder”). An EnhancedBaseline Video Player supports only the mandatory features specified inthe WebDVD specification, while an Enhanced Video Player/Recordersupports both the mandatory and optional features specified in theWebDVD specification plus a recording feature.

To share contents with others, client 1 may upload multimedia contents(e.g., photos, video, etc.) and navigation menu conforming to the WebDVDspecification to web server 10. Appropriate WebDVD authoring tools,e.g., the eDVD and DVDit from Sonic Solution in California, U.S. and theDVD Studio Pro from Apple Computers in California, U.S., may be adaptedto create these contents and the navigation menu.

Client 2, which is a WebDVD player, may be linked to a related web siteto access the shared contents uploaded to web server 10 by otherclients, such as client 1. The URL for the web site may be availablefrom a WebDVD disc or from a user's input. Client 2 enables a user toview the shared contents by interacting with the enhanced navigationmenu available on web server 10, which is a standard feature provided bythe WebDVD ROM format.

Client N, which is a WebDVD player/recorder, provides not only thenormal functionalities available from a WebDVD player, but also simple“authoring” features that allow a user to edit and update the contentson the server. To use the extra functionalities of the device, a usermay connect his digital camera (video or still) or other devices to theWebDVD player/recorder and design a navigation menu using the authoringfeatures on the player/recorder. After the authoring, he may save thecontents on a DVD+R or DVD+RW disc or a hard disk in the player/recorderand upload the contents to web server 10 for sharing the contents withothers. The user may submit a new version of the contents to the webserver by, for example, modifying the contents on the server or addingcontents to the navigation menu, etc. The updated contents are againshared among users and may be recorded on optical discs along with theURL for this web site for distribution. Alternatively, the user maysimply use his own WebDVD player/recorder as a web server and enableothers to access the player/recorder to view, modify or update theshared contents.

In FIG. 1, the multiple clients can be synchronized in response to,e.g., remote events or commands to enable the users to chat with eachother while they are viewing the same contents online, since chat is animportant WebDVD feature.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an operation of client N, aWebDVD player/recorder, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. After an insertion of a recordable optical disc (e.g., aDVD+R or DVD+RW disc) (step 102), the player/recorder checks whether aURL for linking to a related web site is on the disc (step 106). If not,the player/recorder will wait for a user's input to get the URL (step112). After obtaining the URL, the player/recorder will link the disc tothe related web site (step 116) and download an enhanced navigation DVDmenu from the web site to automatically start the content navigation(step 118). The user may view any shared contents already put up on theweb server and selectively record them (step 122). The enhancednavigation menu and other contents may be recorded on either the disc ora hard disk in the player/recorder. The user can then edit the recordedcontents using the WebDVD authoring tools on the player/recorder (step136) and submit the updated contents to the web server for sharing withother users via respective clients (step 142).

In the above, for better offline playback after recording, the absoluteURLs of media objects should preferably be modified to correspondingrelative URLs to allow the media objects to be locally referenced.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A method for sharing contents on the Internet, comprising the stepsof: accessing a web server via a WebDVD player/recorder; uploadingcontents to the web server, via the player/recorder, for sharing thecontents with other users; viewing contents uploaded to the web servervia the player/recorder; and selectively recording the uploaded contentsvia the player/recorder.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingthe steps of: selectively editing the uploaded contents via a WebDVDplayer/recorder; and submitting updated contents to the web server, viathe player/recorder, for sharing with other users.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the viewing step includes a step of viewing contentsuploaded by multiple users.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theuploaded contents conform to a WebDVD specification.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the web server is accessed using a URL on the WebDVDdisc.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web server is accessed usinga URL input by a user.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:before the uploading step, authoring the contents; and after theauthoring step, recording the contents in the player.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the recording step records the contents in a recordableWebDVD disc.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the recording steprecords the contents in a hard disk with a WebDVD logical format in theWebDVD player/recorder.
 10. A method for sharing contents on theInternet, comprising the steps of: authoring contents via a WebDVDplayer/recorder; recording the contents via the player/recorder forsharing the contents; and enabling other users to access theplayer/recorder to view and update the shared contents.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising a step of selectively editing thecontents via the player/recorder for sharing the edited contents withother users.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the contents areauthored to conform to a WebDVD specification.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein the contents are recorded in a recordable WebDVD disc. 14.The method of claim 10, wherein the contents are recorded in a hard diskwith a WebDVD logical format in the player/recorder.
 15. A method forsharing contents on the Internet, comprising the steps of: authoringcontents via a WebDVD player/recorder; recording the contents via theplayer/recorder; and uploading the contents to a web server, via theplayer/recorder, for sharing the contents with other users, the contentsconforming to a WebDVD specification to the web server.
 16. The methodof claim 15, further comprising: viewing contents uploaded to the webserver, via the player/recorder; and selectively recording the uploadedcontents on a recordable disc via the player/recorder.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising: selectively editing the uploaded contentsvia the player/recorder; and submitting updated contents to the webserver, via the player/recorder, for sharing with other users.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the viewing step includes a step of viewingcontents uploaded by multiple users.
 19. The method of claim 15, whereinthe contents are recorded in a recordable WebDVD disc.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the contents are recorded in a hard disk with a WebDVDlogical format in the WebDVD player/recorder.